General Information
Reader's Services
Unit
This Unit deals with research enquiries mostly about Malta
and its history and directs the researchers in cases where
extensive research is required especially in the use of the
catalogues.
 Catalogues
The Bibliographic Services Unit
This is the hub of the Library. It handles
the acquisition of new publications in accordance with the
Legal Deposit
act which stipulates that two copies of all works published
in Malta are to be deposited at the National Library of
Malta and the Gozo Public Library. However, its main function
is
to publish The Malta National Bibliography/Bibljografija
Nazzjonali ta' Malta, a publication listing new works
published in the Maltese Islands during a given year. Each
work is
described in detail, and is arranged by subject according
to the Dewey Decimal Classification, and catalogued according
to the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules. The MNB also includes
two indexes, an 'Index of Authors; Titles and Series' and
a 'Subject Index'. The bulk of the data included within
the MNB constitutes the books and periodicals received
at the
National Library of Malta in a given year by way of legal
deposit. Included are all books and pamphlets with eight
pages or more of text. Each edition of a serial (e.g. a
yearbook, directory or annual report) is regarded as a
separate work
and is therefore catalogued.
In the case of periodical
publications only the first issue of new titles is recorded.
Works written
by Maltese nationals but published abroad, as well as
works or parts of works that are about the Maltese Islands
-
all purchased by the National Library - are also included
within
the scope of the National Bibliography. In addition,
the Bibliographic Services Unit deals with queries from members
of the public regarding information about books and/or
periodicals relating to Melitensia, available at the
National
Library
by way of the Legal Deposit Act.
Catalogues
Archives Unit
This unit is responsible for the archives,
manuscripts, incunabula and rare books in the custody of the
National Library.
Its duties include the compilation of inventories and catalogues
or any other information relating to the above holdings.
Another important role of this section is to research and
mount exhibitions at the National Library and to collaborate
in the organization of exhibitions on a national or international
level.
Catalogues
Microfilming Unit
Here we reproduce manuscripts and books
on microfilm with the aim of making the films available to
the public, thus preserving the original for posterity. To
safeguard the Library’s priceless material, especially
in view of the heavy use of fragile manuscripts and newspapers
by the public, an ambitious programme of microfilming has been
and is still currently being undertaken. Thus, besides ensuring
the preservation of the material through reduced handling of
the original, the extra copy would somehow compensate for the
loss of the original if necessity arises.
Catalogues
Bindery
This section does in-house work, collating
and binding local newspapers, periodicals and reports. Daily
newspapers are
bound in one volume every fortnight and the weeklies are
bound together bi-monthly. The Malta Government Gazette,
Electoral Register and Government reports are also bound
by this section.
Book Restoration Laboratory
Housed at the Malta Restoration Centre
at Kalkara, this Laboratory also carries out in-house restoration
work for the National
Library. The staff members carry out repairs and restoration
of damaged books and manuscripts. They also undertake book-cleaning
projects at the National Library. See website at http://www.education.gov.mt/her_cult/centre_rest.htm
|
